Spool and scissors holder



1950 H. A. ZIEROLD EI'AL 2,532,654

SPOOL AND SCISSORS HOLDER Filed March 16, 1948 INVENTOBS wanna-M HTTOENEV Patented Dec. 5, 1950 SPOOL AND SCISSORS HOLDER Herman A. Zieroldi; Burbank, and Merle J. West, Lcs Angeles, Calif.;. said Westassignor to said Zi'erold Application March lfi, 1948, Serial No. 15,186

10 Claims; 1.

The present invention relates to spool. holders, and its primaryobject is to provide a device that is adapted to receive a large" number of thread spools of all sizes and shapes, each of which is held in such: a manner as to be immediately accessible without disturbing the others.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, wherein: the spools are held in neat, orderly rows, with their labels presented outwardly for ready identification.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spool holder that is extremely compact, light in Weight, of attractive appearance, and inexpensive to manufacture. Fabrication of the device is particularly facilitated by certain novel features of construction, in which all of the component parts are blanked out of sheet metal and assembled in an interlocking arrangment without the use of rivets, screws, or other fastening elements. In this connection, one of the features of the invention is a unique method of fastening two members together, wherein astrap member is passed through a slot in a plate member, and then the portions of the strap on opposite sides of the plate are twisted in opposite directions so that the edges of the strap overlie the margins of the slot. Another feature of novelty in the construction of this device is the manner in which we form a handle, using a bowed strip of resilient material, the ends of which are notched on opposite sides and inserted through oppositely facing T-slots inthe top shelf plate. The spring tendency of the bowed strip forces the ends of the strip outwardly to the bottom ends of the T-slots, thereby interlocking the parts in a manner which will be readily understood from the description that follows.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a spool holder embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end View;

Fig. 4' is a vertical section, taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the spacers used in the mid-portion of the device to hold the shelf plates apart;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the straps 2. used at the ends of the device for tying. the shelf plates together in. spaced relation; and

Fig. '7 is av perspective view showing details ofthe end of handle strip, and the T-slot in the top shelf plate, in which it is engaged.

In the drawings, the spool. holder of the invention is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral I0, and comprises vertically sF aGedshelf plates H, [2 and I3. Each of these plates is preferably stamped out of heavy gauge sheet metal, such as light-weight aluminum alloy, andis formed with a relatively narrow, horizontal center strip I4- having inclined side portions l5 and 16: extending downwardly and cute wardly from opposite side edges thereof. Preferably, although. not necessarily, the side portions 15, It. are disposed at approximately 45 to the center strip,v I l, and struck out from the side portions substantially perpendicular thereto are. av plurality of round-ended fingers 21!. In the. preferred. embodiment of. the invention, the angle included between the top surfaces of the fingers 2t. and the side portions I 5 It, is which has been found to be the most eifective angle. At this angular relation, the bottom end Of the. spoolbears on the: side portion 55, t6 at a. point located. above the base of the fingentilting. the spool slightly on the finger and causing. itto bind on the latter, so that the spools will remain on the fingers even if the holder is inverted The shelf plates I], l2, l3-,. may be of any length and with any desired number of fingers; although we have found that the optimum size is about '7 in length, and with '7- fingers struck out from each. of the side portions l5, l6, giving a totalof- 42- fingers in the preferred eme bodiment. The fingers 20 are adapted to receivethe spools of thread, as shown inv Fig. l, and are preferably made only slightly narrower in width than the inside diameter of the central hold in the spool, so that there is only a small amount of play between the spool and finger. The fingers 28 are also made slightly shorter than the'spools, so that labels on the ends of thelatter are not pierced, but remain. intact and. easily read. The spools are preferably inserted on the fingers so that the labels thereof face outwardly to permit ready identification of the. thread on the spool.

li he bottom. shelf plate 13- has four legs 2-H formedintegrally therewith, said legs extending downwardly and outwardly from the edges of the side portions 15, I6, near the end of the plate. Connecting the plates- H, [2-, I 3, together in vertically spaced relationship, are two end straps 22 which extend through slots 23 in the center strip portion E l. lhe straps 22 are notched in from their opposite edges at 24, 25, and 25, where the strap passes through the slot 23 in the shelf plate. hen the device is assembled, the straps are inserted through the slots 23 in the three end plates and the strap portions 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d are alternately twisted in opposite directions, as best shown in Fig. 1, so that the shoulders formed by the sides of the slot overlie and engage the margins of the slots 23. This arrangement causes each of the shelf plates to be locked between the opposite side edges of their respective slots 2d, 25, 2t, and provides a simple, inexpensive method of attaching the several parts together without using rivets, screws, or other machine fastening elements.

The shelf plates ll, l2, and 13 are braced with respect to one another intermediate their ends by support members 30, each of which consists of a generally rectangular plate having notches 3| cut into the ends thereof. The projections 32 at the ends of the notches 3! are spaced apart the width of the center strip portion i4, and the said projections are adapted to extend into the top ends of the openings 23a left by the outstruck fingers 2c. The engagement of the notched ends of the support members 33 with the center strip portions [4 of the shelf plate is a snug fit, and the engagement of the projections 32 in the finger openings 23a prevent displacement of the members 3!] either laterally with respect to the shelf plate, or in a longitudinal direction. These support members, being disposed transversely of the holder, brace the shelf plates against lateral deflection with respect to one another, and add materially to the rigidity and strength of the device.

The spool holder I is provided with a carrying handle 35 which is preferably in the form of a relatively narrow strip of resilient sheet metal that is bowed to a generally arcuate form. The ends of the strip 35 are notched at 38 from their opposite sides. This leaves a head 4 at each end of the strip 35, each of which is adapted to be inserted through the transversely extend ing portion 4! of a T-slot 32 formed in the center strip E4 of the top shelf plate II. The two T-slots 42 face in opposite directions, with their longitudinally extending portions 43 extending outwardly toward the ends of the plates. The longitudinal slot portion G3 is adapted to receive the reduced neck portion of the handle strip 35 between the bottoms of the notches 35, and when the ends of the strip have been inserted in their respective T-slots, the natural spring tendency of the strip causes the ends to be spread outwardly to the bottoms of slot portions 43.

Formed in the center strip portion I4 of the two upper shelf plates ll, l2 just outwardly beyond the end of the handle are elongated openings 45 which are adapted to receive the blades of scissors, as shown in Fig. 1. The points of the scissors rest on the center strip of the bottom shelf plate l3, and the finger grips are conveniently presented so that the scissors can readily be lifted out of the slot 45 in the holder.

The manner in which the spool holder of the invention is used is obvious from the drawings. Among the advantages of the invention is that the device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture. At the same time, the holder is strongly built and of attractive appearance, also being light in weight and convenient to use.

While We have shown and described in considerable detail what we believe to be the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that such details are not restrictive and that various changes may be made in the shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the scope of the broader claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with downwardly and outwardly inclined portions at opposite sides thereof, each of said side portions having a plurality of longitudinally spaced outstruck fingers standing out therefrom, said fingers being adapted to receive and hold spools of thread, and means engageable with said center strips for holding said plates together in spaced relation.

2. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with inclined side portions extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides thereof at a substantially 45 angle, each of said side portions having a plurality of longitudinally spaced outstruck fingers standing out from the lower edge thereof, said fingers being substantially perpendicular to said side portions and forming spindles to receive spools of thread, and means engageable with said center strips for holding said plates together in spaced relation.

3. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates having a plurality of outstanding fingers adapted to receive and hold spools of thread, and a strap extending through aligned slots in said plates, the portions of said strap on opposite sides of each of said plates being twisted in opposite directions, whereby the edges of said strap overlie and engage the margins of said slots to provide interlocking connections between the strap and said plates for holding said plates together in spaced relation.

4. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with downwardly and outwardly inclined portions at opposite sides thereof, each of said side portions having a plurality of longitudinally spaced fingers standing out therefrom to receive spools of thread, a pair of straps extending through aligned slots in the horizontal center strips of said plates at opposite ends thereof, each of said straps being notched in its opposite sides where it passes through said slots, the portions of said straps on opposite sides of each of said plates being twisted in opposite directions, whereby the shoulders of said notches overlie the margins of said slots to provide interlocking connections between said straps and said plates for holding the latter together in spaced relation.

5. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with downwardly and outwardly inclined portions at opposite sides thereof, each of said side portions having a plurality of longitudinally spaced outstruck fingers standing out therefrom, said fingers being adapted to receive and hold spools of thread, connecting means at the ends of said plates for tying said plates together in spaced relation, and support members disposed between adjacent pairs of plates intermediate said connecting means for spacing and bracing said plates, said support members being notched in their ends to receive said center strip, and the projections at the ends of said notches extending into the openings on opposite sides of said center strip left by said outstruck fingers.

6. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates having a plurality of outstanding fingers adapted to receive and hold spools of thread, means connecting said plates together in spaced relation, and a handle for said holder comprising a bowed strip of resilient material, the ends of said strip being notched on opposite sides and inserted through oppositely facing T-shaped slots in the top plate, and the spring tendency of said bowed strip holding the notched ends thereof at the far ends of said T-slots.

7. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with inclined side portions extending downwardly and outwardly from opposite sides thereof at a substantially 45 angle, each or said side portions having a plurality of longitudinally spaced outstruck fingers standing out from the lower edge thereof, said fingers being substantially perpendicular to said side portions and being adapted to receive and hold spools of thread, a pair of straps extending through aligned slots in the center strips of said plates at opposite ends thereof, each of said straps being notched in its opposite sides where it passes through said slots, portions of said straps on opposite sides of each of said plates being twisted in opposite directions, whereby the shoulders of said notches overlie the margins of said slots to provide interlocking connections between said straps and said plates for holding the latter together in spaced relation, support members disposed between adjacent pairs of plates midway between said end straps, said support members being notched in their ends to receive the center strips of said plates, and the projections at the ends of said notches extending into the openings on opposite sides of said center strip left by said outstruck fingers, and a handle for said holder comprising a bowed strip of resilient material, the ends of said strip being notched on opposite sides and engaged in oppositely facing T-slots in the center strip of the top plate, and the spring tendency of said bowed strip holding the notched ends thereof at the far ends of said T-slots.

8. A sewing equipment holder comprising three or more vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with downwardly and outwardly inclined portions at opposite sides thereof, each of said side portions having means thereon to support a plurality of spools of thread, all except the lowermost of said center strips having open apertures therein, said apertures being aligned to receive a closed pair of scissors vertically disposed therein with the points of said scissors resting on said lowermost plate, and means engageable with said center strips for holding said plates together in spaced relation.

9. A spool holder comprising a plurality of vertically spaced shelf plates, each of said plates being bent to form a narrow horizontal center strip with downwardly and outwardly inclined portions at opposite sides thereof, each of said side portions having a plurality of longitudinally spaced outstruck ringers standing out therefrom, said fingers being adapted to receive and hold spools of thread, all except the lowermost of said center strips having open apertures therein, said apertures being aligned to receive a closed pair of scissors vertically disposed therein with the points of said scissors resting on said lowermost plate, and means engageable with said center strips for holding said plates together in spaced relation.

10. A sewing equipment holder comprising three or more vertically spaced shelf plates, having means disposed on opposite sides of a central strip thereof to support a plurality of spools of thread, the center strips in each of said shelf plates except the lowermost having open apertures therein and said apertures being aligned to receive a closed pair of scissors therein with the points of said scissors resting on the lowermost of said plates, and a strap extending through aligned slots in said plates, the portions of said strap on opposite sides of each of said plates being twisted in opposite directions, whereby th edges of said strap overlie and engage the margins of said slots to provide interlocking connection between the strap and said plates for holding said plates together in spaced relation.

HERMAN A. ZIEROLD. MERLE J. WEST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 898,993 Rosemergey Sept. 15, 1908 1,012,261 Mahr Dec, 19, 1911 1,622,107 Harrod Mar. 22, 1927 

